Pressure accumulator



J. MERCIER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR July 2o, 1965 original Filed April 1'?, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f am of .e mM mm AMM ATTORNEYS July 20, 1965 J. MERCIER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- Original Filed April 17, 1959 I N V EN TOR J an lel't'l'el" IIIII 'IIIII'II III!! United States Patent() JaL 3 Claims. (Cl. 13S-30) lt is among the objects of the invention to provide a simple and expeditious method of manufacturing pressure accumulators from relatively low cost materials without the need for precise tolerances or precision work requiring highly skilled workers.

Another object is to provide a pressure accumulator which is strong and durable and not likely to break down and which may readily be manufactured from relatively inexpensive components and may readily be disassembled for maintenance and repair.

This application is a division of copending application Serial No. 807,174, filed April l7, 1959, now abandoned.

According to the invention, these objects are accomplished by the method and arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described and particularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

FIGS. l and 2 are longitudinal sectional views of different embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the invention,

FIGS, 4 and 5 are fragmentary longitudinal sectional views of a bladder, and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views similar to FIG. 3 of other embodiments of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the accumulator shown in FIG. l desirably comprises a substantially cylindrical shell or container 11 having a gas inlet port 12 in its closed end 13.

Positioned in said container is a deformable elongated bladder 14 of natural or synthetic rubber or of plastic having like characteristics. The bladder 14- at its end 15 has an internal axial extension 16 desirably molded integral therewith, the function of which will be hereinafter described.

The bladder 14 is desirably initially molded by placing a charge of suitable material into the cavity of a mold base having an outstanding lateral recess at its upper end, placing a core in the cavity and thereupon applying heat and pressure to the mold until the bladder is formed. The core and the bladder are thereupon removed, the bladder thus formed having outwardly directed thickened bead 17 at its mouth, as shown in HG. 4. The bladder is then reversed so that the bead 17 will then be on the inside of the bladder as shown in FIG. 5. Such construction facilitates removal of the core of the mold after the molding operation.

Although the bladder may be retained in the container in any suitable manner, as illustratively shown, the thickened bead 17 at the mouth of the bladder 1d is desirably clamped against the inner surface of end 13- of the container by means of a clamp disc 18, which preferably is resilient. The disc 18 has an axial stem 19, preferably formed integral therewith, which extends through the port 13, the stern being externally threaded as at 29 to receive a nut 21.

The disc 18 has a peripheral annular ilange 22 and an outstanding projection, desirably an annulus 23, which is designed to abut against the undersurface of the closed end of the shell. In addition, an annular shoulder 24 is provided at the root end of stern 19, said shoulder having an annular groove 25 in which a resilient sealing member Federated July 20, 19%5 such as an O ring 26 is positioned, and being of height less than that of annulus 23.

To close the open end or mouth 27 of the container 11, a substantially cup-shaped cap 28 is provided having a side wall 29 of inner diameter such that it will encompass the open end 27 of the container and t snugly thereagainst. The floor 31 of the cap desirably has a cylindrical axial extension 32 preferably formed integral therewith and defining a fluid port 33, said extension being threaded as at 34 to receive a suitable coupling (not shown). In addition, the door has a plurality of outstanding bosses 35 on its inner surface which serve to space a perforated plate 36 from said floor 31. The plate 36 desirably is curved to conform to the curvature of the door 31 and is of diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the mouth of the container.

To assemble the accumulator shown in FlG. l, the beaded mouth 17 of the ladder is positioned so that it encompasses the periphery of the disc 13 and rests on the flange 22. The resilient seal ring 26 is then positioned in annular groove 25 of shoulder 24; the stem 19 of the disc 18 is then passed through the port 12 and the nut 21 is screwed tightly on the threaded end of the stem until the annulus 23 abuts against the inner surface of the closed end of the container.

As a result, the O ring 26 will be compressed to form a seal between the stem 19 and the container and the thickened bead 17 at the mouth of the bladder will be compressed by the flange 2?. against the inner surface of the container so that such beaded portion will be securely retained in position.

As the annulus is of greater height than shoulder 24, the annulus will first abut against the container to insure that the bead 17 will be securely clamped against the container to effect a dependable seal. Thereafter with further rotation of the nut 21, by reason of the resilience of the disc 1S, the shoulder 24 will be moved into close juxtaposition to the container to compress the seal ring 26 to form a dependable seal.

If not for the fact that the annulus 23 is of greater height than the shoulder 24, if there should be any imperfection, such as protuberances on the inner wall of the container adjacent the air opening, and the shoulder 24 seated rst, the annulus 23 might not press against the container, with the result that the bead 17 would not be tightly gripper and might come loose with resultant failure of the unit.

The end 15 of the bladder is then pushed by hand toward the disc 1S so that the axial extension 16 of the bladder passes through the bore 37 of the stern 19. The end of the extension which protrudes from the stem is then held by a suitable clamp 3S so that the lower end of the bladder Will be retained adjacent the disk 18, assuming the position illustratively shown in dot and dash lines in F161 1.

The perforated plate 36 is then positioned so as to rest on the bosses 35 on the floor 31 of the cap 2S, axially aligned with the port 33. A ring 41 of any suitable metallic bonding material such as silver solder, of diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the container 11 is positioned on the surface of the plate 36. The cap 28 with the plate and solder ring i1 thereon is then fitted over the end 27 of the container 11 so that the side wall 29 of the cap will encompass the open end of the container and the rim 42 of such container will rest on the floor of the cap adjacent its side wall 29. A second ring 43 of solder is then positioned around the container so that it rests on the upper edge i4 of the side Wall 29 as shown in FIG. l.

A source of heat of sufficient temperature to melt the solder rings d1 and i3 is then applied to the end 27 of the container until both of the solder rings are melted. As a result, the cap 28 will be securely bonded to the side Wall 29 of the container as at 45 and the plate 36 will be securely bonded to the inner wall of the container as at 46.'

After4 the solder andthe containerl have cooled, the clamp 38 holding the protruding end of the extension 16 is released and the bladder will thereupon drop into the container, assuming its normal form shown'in full lines. A conventional gas valve (not shown) may then be screwed into the threaded bore 37 of the stem and the accumulator is then ready for use in conventional manner.

The embodiment shown in FIG.V 2 is similar in many respects to that shown in FIG. 1 and corresponding'parts have the same reference numerals primed. t

In thisgembodiment port 12Yin vtheend 13 of the container is of greater diameter than-the port 12 of FIG. 1 and is sealed by means of a disc 18 and a clamp plate 51.

The disc ,18' has a stem 19' preferably formed integralf therewith which is externally threaded as at 20. TheV disc 18' is of diameter'such that its top surface will engage the undersurface of the container adjacent the rim of its port 12 and the disc 18 'hasa peripheral flange 22,l which is spaced from the adjacent inner surface of the Wall of the outer diameter slightly less than the diameter of the portl 12 so that it may readily tit inV such opening and said side walll 53 has a lateral flange 54 adapted to seat on' the outer surface of the shell adjacentztheV rim of port 12'; The length of the side wall 53 isvless than the thickness of the container wall at such port 12 so that the floor 55 ofthe plate 51 will be spaced from the ldisc `1% when the latter abuts against the undersurface of the container as showny in FIG..2. w y A In assembling the accumulator shown in FIG; 2, thel beaded mouth 17 of the bladder is positioned Yso that it the bladder 14 against the inner surfacetof the .containerl securely to retain the bladder in position.

AlthoughV the disc may be retainedrin lixed position against the innerjsurface of thecontainer adjacent the port 12'? in any suitable manner, in the illustrative embodiment herein, a ring 67 of resilient material, such as sheet metal,

substantially L-shaped in cross section, has one of its legs 68 aIiXedas by Welding to the top surface of the disc 18 Vand its other leg 69 which preferably is split as at 71 and which normally is resiliently stressed outwardly, will clamp against the side wall of the port 12" in the container.` i

The pressure accumulator shown in FIG. 3 isassembled by positioning the beaded'portion 17l ofthe bladder so that'it encompasses the periphery of the disc 18L and rests on the flange' 22". The discf18.is thereupon inserted into encompasses the periphery of disc 18and rests on the flange 22. The disc 18 is then inserted into the container through its open end 27 so that the stem 19 extends through the port 12'. kThe plate 51 is then positioned so that the stem 19 extends through its opening 52 jand'with the flange 54 of the plate 51 resting onr 'the outer rim of the port 12; thus centering the disc 18 and the bladder 14 in the container. A nut 21 is then screwed tightly on stem 19 causing the disc Y18f and ange 54 to clamp the rim of port 12 therebetween, such clamping action also causing the beaded mouth 17 of theV bladder to be clamped by the ange 22 against the container. Y

A conventional gas valve (not shown) which is screwed intorthe stem-19 is then opened and the, bladder is cornpressed as by handv and moved upwardly. The valve is then closed retaining the end 1,5 of the bladder adjacent the disc 18' as shown in dot and dashlines in FIG. 2.

If desired, instead of manually compressing the bladder and moving it upwardly, suction may be appliedV through the open valve in the stem 19' to effect such collapse and contraction of the bladder 14'.

The end 27' of the container 11 is then closed in the manner' previously described with respect yto the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and Vafter the container and solder have cooled, thevalve in stem 19 is opened so that atmospheric pressure will causethe bladder 14. to assumel its normal positionshown in `full lines in FIG. 2. Y

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is also similar ink many respects to the embodiment shown in, FIGS. ll and 2 and corresponding parts also have the same reference n thecontainer and the outwardly stressedleg 69 is pressed inwardly so that it mayrpass through port 12" and vsuch leg'69 isthen released, Ysecurely retaining the disc 1-8 in position with the beaded portion 17,r clamped against the inner surface of the wall Vof the container adjacent port 12".

A needle (not shown) having a bore therethrough is lthen passed through the aligned openings 58 and 64 of the disc 18" and the plate 62 and through the rubber mass 61; The bladder 14T is then; compressed manually and moved toward the disc 18l and the lneedle lis, then removed so that therubber mass 61V will'seal the opening made by the passage of theY needle ytherethrough to retain4 the bladder in compressed conditiony as shown in ldot and dash lines in FIG. 3 so that its end 15 is spaced from theopen end of the container 11. i If desired, instead of manually compressing the bladder, suction may be applied tothe needle to vachieve the. same result. i r

The open end (not shown) of the container 11 'is then closedl inthe manner described with respect to the embodiment shown in EIG. 1 and thereupon after the container, and solder have cooled, the needle isl inserted into the rubber mass`61 so that communication is afforded between. the interior of thebladder 14" andthe atmosphere and as a result, the bladder will expandto assume the position shown in full lines' Vlay-reason of atmospheric pressure.

With the methods above described, a relatively inexpensiveflowpressure accumulator may be formed. As

the lower end 'of the bladder, during theV bonding opera-V tion, is movedlaway from the regiontdwhich heat is applied v,to close the lower end of the container, such lower end will s utfer no injury. Toepen theaccumulator for 'any purpose, such as to clean'fits interior to replace the bladder, heat may be Yapplied to the lower end oftheA container tore-melt the .metallic,bonding-y material so that the cap is` readily removable.,Y If the bladder is not defective, by'merelyk applying suction-to the gas port in the manner previouslydescribed, the lower end of the'bladderV can be moved awa-y from the soldered portion prior to the` heating operation so that no injury will be imparted there- Y to..

In the embodiment inFIG. 6,. the rim 71 of the A bladder `72 is'retained{'against'the wall of they container 73 by aresilient clamp plate v74,-the latter having a centraleopening 75 through whicha stem 76 extends;

Thus when, a nut 77 threaded on the end of the stem I extending beyondthe port 78' of the container 73 is tightened the liange 79 at the curved end ofthe stem will be moved upwardly torstteompress the periphery. 89, V0f the.

clamp plate 74 against the Wall of the container to clamp the rim 71 of the bladder 72 therebetween.

The radius of curvature of the'clarnp plate 7d may be greater than that of the adjacent wall of the container as shown in full lines in PEG. 6 or the clamp plate may be substantially flat as shown in broken lines at Sli.

lf desired, a collar 82 may idly encompass the stem 76 as shown or be secured to the rim of the opening 75 in the clamp plate, the thickness of the collar being auch that the periphery S0 of the clamp plate 7d will engage the wall of the container 73 before the collar $52 abats against the rim of the port 73 in the container.

In the embodiment shown in PEG. 7, which is similar to that in FIG. 6, the stem '76 has an annular lateral shoulder 83 at its inner end and a flange @d extends laterally outward from said shoulder. The height of the shoulder is such that the periphery S0 of the clamp plate 74 will engage the wall of the container 73 before the shoulder 83 abuts against the rim of the port 78 in the container 73.

As many changes could be made in the above method and equipment, and many apparently widely diierent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what i claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A pressure vessel comprising a rigid container having a port at one end, a bladder of resilient deformable material in said container, said bladder having a mouth at one end, a resilient clamp disc having an associated stem extending through the port of said container, said disc and said stem having a passageway therethrough, said dise having an outer peripheral portion and a portion inwardly of said outer peripheral portion adapted to abut against the inner surface of the container, the rim of the mouth of the bladder being seated on said peripheral portion, means to etect outward movement of said stem through said port and to move the dise toward said inner surface of the container, to compress the rim of the mouth of the bladder between the outer peripheral portion of the disc and the inner surface of the container resiliently to retain the rim of the bladder in fixed position, said stem having an annular lateral shoulder at its inner end and a flange extending laterally outward from said shoulder, said passageway dening a central opening in said disc, said stem extending through said opening, said flange being adapted to abut against the periphery of said opening, said shoulder being of height such that the disc portion inwardly of said outer peripheral porion thereof will abut against the periphery of the container port, said disc portion inwardly of said outer peripheral portion limiting the compression of said rim, said bladder delining a chamber on each side thereof, one of said chambers being in communication with said passageway for charging of said chamber, said container having an additional port to provide access to the other chamber.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the curvature of said clamp disc is greater than the curvature of the adjacent wall of said container.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which the disc portion inwardly of said outer peripheral portion when the disc is moved toward the container wall will exert a pressure against the latter greater than that exerted by the annular zone of the clamp disc inwardly of said disc portion.

References @tred by the Examiner UNETED STATES PATENTS 2,123,381 7/38 Reichel 29-454 2,392,173 l/46 Mercier 12S-53 2,399,879 5/46 Mercier 138-30 2,411,874 12/46 Golden 29-454 2,492,000 l2/49 Morris et al. 18-53 2,550,892 5/51 Weber et al 13S-30 2,630,834 3/53 Weber et al 138-30 2,880,759 4/ 59 Wisman 38-30 3,038,501 6/62 Greer 13S-30 EDWARD V. BENI-IAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PRESSURE VESSEL COMPRISING A RIGID CONTAINER HAVING A PORT AT ONE END, A BLADDER OF RESILIENT DEFORMABLE MATERIAL IN SAID CONTAINER, SAID BLADDER HAVING A MOUTH AT ONE END, A RESILIENT CLAMP DISC HAVING AN ASSOCIATED STEM EXTENDING THROUGH THE PORT OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID DISC AND SAID STEM HAVING A PASSAGEWAY THERETHROUGH, SAID DISC HAVING AN OUTER PERIPHERAL PORTION AND A PORTION INWARDLY OF SAID OUTER PERIPHERAL PORTION ADAPTED TO ABUT AGAINST THE INNER SURFACE OF THE CONTAINER, THE RIM OF THE MOUTH OF THE BLADDER BEING SEATED ON SAID PERIPHERAL PORTION, MEANS TO EFFECT OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID STEM THROUGH SAID PORT AND TO MOVE THE DISC TOWARD SAID INNER SURFACE OF THE CONTAINER, TO COMPRESS THE RIM OF THE MOUTH OF THE BLADDER BETWEEN THE OUTER PERIPHERAL PORTION OF THE DISC AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE CONTAINER RESILIENTLY TO RETAIN THE RIM OF THE BLADDER IN FIXED POSITION, SAID STEM 